One of the great things about growing succulent plants is the lack of pests they attract. … It is important to keep an eye out for
small gnats, aphids, and mealybugs
, as these are the most common succulent/cactus plant pests. Let’s look into cactus and succulent pests and learn how to get rid of them.
Do cacti attract flies?
Cacti prefer a
dry climate — except when they are germinating
, when cranking up the humidity with extra watering and high heat can attract the wrong kind of attention from gnats.
Do flies like cactus?
Cacti prefer a
dry climate — except when they are germinating
, when cranking up the humidity with extra watering and high heat can attract the wrong kind of attention from gnats.
How do you get rid of cactus gnats?
- Make the Natural Habitat Inhospitable. …
- Use a Soap-and-Water Mixture. …
- Use Sand or Gravel. …
- Dispose of the Top Layer of Soil Outdoors. …
- Don’t Overwater Your Houseplants. …
- Water From the Bottom. …
- Store Extra Potting Soil in an Airtight Container.
Do flies like succulents?
Succulents don’t attract flies by themselves
, but when they’re not properly maintained, they’ll be a home for a host of bugs. The best piece of advice to keep your succulents fly-free is to keep them healthy and aerated.
Why are there small flies on my cactus?
Fungus gnats fly to cacti when
the soil is moist and conditions are warm, breeding larvae that crawl on the cacti before maturing into flying insects
. As they breed, these gnats can become a nuisance in the garden or greenhouse.
Can spider mites live on cactus?
Succulent Mite Control. Spider mites
damage both cacti
and succulents by sucking the plant’s juices. … Red spider mites are actually reddish-brown in color and thrive in hot, dry conditions. They dislike humidity, so misting and overhead watering can reduce their incidence.
What smell do gnats hate?
Or, you can switch up your favorite scent with something they don’t like. Try Lighting citronella candles, using
lemon or vanilla sprays
. While gnats are a fan of sweet-smelling fruit, they can’t seem to stand vanilla, lemon, or even lavender. A little spritz can at least keep them at bay.
Why does my cactus have bugs?
Although most problems associated with cacti and succulents grown as houseplants are
bacterial or fungal diseases caused by overwatering
, they do get the occasional insect pest. The most common pests are scale, mealy bugs and root mealy bugs. Less common pests include spider mites and fungus gnats.
What is the fastest way to get rid of gnats?
- Make an apple cider vinegar trap. Place a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and stir the contents. …
- Make a fruit trap. …
- Pour diluted bleach down the sink or tub drain. …
- Make a candle trap. …
- Hire a professional pest control company.
What is the best soil for succulents?
Succulents need good draining soil. When planting in the garden, make sure the area drains well and is not in a low spot that would stay wet. For container planting, you can purchase cactus soil or incorporate
sand, gravel or volcanic rock
into your potting soil for better drainage.
What is eating my succulents at night?
Mice, voles, squirrels and other rodents
can eat and even steal your succulents. If you don’t notice anything during the daytime, rodents might be stealing or eating your succulents at night!
Why do my succulents have flies?
If you’re getting fungus gnats on your succulents, it means two things, one is that
you’re providing way too much water
, and the second thing is that your plants are in the wrong soil. Succulents need well drained and gravelly soil.
How do you treat Cactus pests?
If you’re more of a hands-off bug killer, you can dab a
mealybug with rubbing alcohol
or spray it with a mixture of liquid dish soap and water. After applying the soap, let it sit for a day and then gently rinse that area of the cactus.
How often should you water succulents?
They pull water out of the soil at a remarkable rate as they make new stems, leaves, roots and blooms. You may water them
three times a week
, depending on conditions like light and temperature. In the winter, succulents go dormant. Growing stops, so you’ll only need to water them once or twice for the entire season.
Are Butterworts succulents?
Butterwort plants (Pinguicula) are tiny plants that can go unrecognized until they bloom. … Species from Mexico turn into non-carnivorous succulent plants during the subtropical winter dry season.
